SAR Calibration Aided by Permanent Scatterers

We propose a calibration method suitable for a set of repeated synthetic aperture radar (SAR) acquisitions that uses both absolute calibrated devices (such as corner reflectors) and stable targets identified in the scene [the permanent scatterers (PSs)]. Precisely, the role of the PS is to extend the initial calibration sequence by monitoring the radiometric stability of the system throughout the whole mission life span. At a first step, this paper approaches the problem of PS-based normalization by an iterative maximum-likelihood method that exploits the stack of complex interferometric SAR images. Two solutions are given based on different assumptions on the PS phases. As a second step, the merging of these estimates with the available calibration information is discussed. Results achieved by experimental acquisitions are shown in two different SAR systems: 1) a C-band spaceborne SAR and 2) a Ku-band ground-based SAR.